Ray Douglas Dodge

Ray Douglas Dodge, 72, of St. Joseph, passed away Saturday, December 31, 2016 at his home.  A Celebration of Life Service will be held at 11:30 A.M. Saturday, January 7, 2017 at Starks & Menchinger Chapel, 2650 Niles Rd., St. Joseph, with Rev. Kevin Adams officiating. Friends may visit with the family from 5:00 until 7:00 P.M. Friday at the funeral home.  Memorial donations may be made to the Humane Society of Southwest Michigan or Deaf and Hard of Hearing Services.  Those wishing to sign Doug’s Memory Book online may do so at www.starks-menchinger.com.    Doug was born May 26, 1944 in Carson City, Michigan to Raymond & Dorothy (Thompson) Dodge. He graduated from Carson City High School in 1962, and from Gallaudet College in Washington, DC in 1969.  On June 27, 1970, he married the former Norene Yayesaki in Sacramento, California.   Doug was employed by the State of Michigan as a Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor, retiring in 2010 after thirty-five years.  He was a former member and past president of the Benton Harbor Lions Club, a member and past president of the Southwest Michigan Association of the Deaf, and a member and chairman of the Michiana Deaf Senior Citizens in South Bend.  In his free time, Doug enjoyed golf, bowling, reading and spending time with his family, especially his two grandchildren.  Doug was known for his great sense of humor and will be deeply missed by all who knew and loved him.     Doug is survived by his wife Norene; his children-Kimberly Dodge of Rochester, NY, Cary (Olivia) Dodge of Coloma; his grandchildren-Amara & Avery Dodge; and his sister Karen (Leslie) Spriggs of Naples, FL. He was preceded in death by his parents.